…….Defends Compliance with Court of Appeal Judgment on ADC Crisis

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has firmly rejected calls for the removal of its Chairman, Professor Joash O. Amupitan, SAN, describing them as a distraction and an assault on the commission’s constitutional independence.

In a strongly worded press release issued on Wednesday, INEC clarified that the Chairman’s appointment, tenure, and removal are strictly governed by Section 157 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and not subject to the whims of any political party or interest group.

The commission’s reaction follows public statements by some political actors accusing INEC of partisan bias over its decision to comply with a recent Court of Appeal judgment concerning the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

INEC explained that it chose to obey the appellate court’s ruling to avoid a repeat of the situations in Zamfara and Plateau states, where elected officials were removed by election tribunals due to disobedience of court judgments.

The commission further stated that proceeding to monitor the congress and convention of the David Mark-led ADC faction would have amounted to disobeying a preservative order of the Federal High Court, which restrained INEC from taking any steps that could render pending processes nugatory. The matter, according to INEC, is currently before the court for accelerated hearing.

“Section 287(2) of the 1999 Constitution mandates every person and authority in Nigeria to obey and enforce judgments of the Court of Appeal,” the release emphasised.

INEC also addressed allegations of undermining the multi-party system, pointing out that under Professor Amupitan’s leadership, it has registered and recognised three new political parties — the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), and National Democratic Party (NDP) — bringing the total number of active political parties in Nigeria to 22.

The commission described this as “an empirical rebuttal to any claim of a one-party agenda,” insisting it remains a neutral regulator rather than a participant in political competition.

On updates to party leadership records, INEC said its actions are guided solely by subsisting court orders and the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, and it would not allow itself to be drawn into internal party conflicts.

Voter Revalidation Exercise Not Politically Motivated

INEC also moved to dispel what it called misconceptions surrounding the planned nationwide voter revalidation exercise.

The commission clarified that the decision to revalidate the voters’ register predates the appointment of Professor Amupitan and is a professional necessity aimed at sanitising the National Register of Voters, which currently contains data from 2011 to 2024.

The exercise, which is not a fresh registration but an administrative audit, seeks to address issues such as transfers, multiple registrations, and deceased persons. It will be conducted in phases across all local government areas and polling units, with digital options for ease of access.

INEC stressed that the revalidation is uniform and transparent, and “not targeted at any region, party, or demographic.”

Focus on Upcoming Off-Cycle Elections

The electoral body said it remains focused on conducting credible off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti State in June 2026 and Osun State in August 2026, and would not be distracted by unfounded allegations of bias or collusion.

“Our allegiance remains solely to the Constitution and the will of the Nigerian people,” the statement declared.

INEC reiterated its commitment to free, fair, credible, and inclusive elections, describing calls for Professor Amupitan’s resignation as misplaced.

The press release was e-signed by Adedayo Oketola, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman.